| Subject: For Tea, 'This is the big one' |
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 Tommy
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Date Posted: 08:14:19 04/30/09 Thu
Posted By LUKE HENDRY, THE INTELLIGENCER
Tea-Nercita Savic is hoping she has universal appeal.
The 21-year-old Belleville resident was last year's third runner-up in the 2008 Miss World Canada contest. She's now in the Miss Universe Canada pageant.
"This is the big one," she said Tuesday. "I'm really excited.
"I think my chances are really good this year."
The preliminary round will be held May 15 at Toronto's Metro Convention Centre, when the field of more than 60 contestants will be cut to just 15.
The final group will compete May 16, with the winner advancing to the international Miss Universe competition Aug. 30 in the Bahamas. Contestants from more than 80 countries are expected.
Savic works as a receptionist at a medical clinic and will attend Utah's Brigham Young University this fall to study humanities and psychology.
The Centennial Secondary School graduate has also volunteered with SOS Children's Villages, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, UNICEF Canada and more.
And she isn't the only pageant competitor in the family. Sister Jelena, 19, was named the 2007 Miss Canada Teen Global by children's charity Variety.
Now the sisters are working together on Tea's shot at the title.
"Tea's going to kill it," Jelena said, adding that as her sister's informal consultant she's being paid in "shoes and purses."
"That's the best part -- going shopping," Tea said. "You almost feel like you're getting married.
"Without the boys," added Jelena with a laugh.
Tea said last year's Miss World experience has helped prepare her for her latest attempt.
"It gave me such an inside view of how it works behind the scenes," she said. "I understand what it takes to win.
"It puts you through the grind. It shows you what you're really made of in the end."
"We've had a lot of support from our parents," she added. "Our whole family in Europe has been cheering."
The Savics are a musical family: Tea, Jelena, and sister Tabitha, 11, will perform this month as part of a group of 10 harpists. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to be in the audience.
Tea said she'll play the instrument in the Miss Universe competition in the hope of making it into the talent round.
"The more surprises you can give them the better your chances are."
Miss Universe winners become spokeswomen for HIVAIDS awareness.
Both Tea and Jelena are already working toward careers as motivational speakers, especially for children. Competing in pageants helps prepare them for that role, Tea said.
She said young audiences "want to see somebody who's reaching their goals, living their dreams, helping others along the way to great heights."
Tea said the high traffic on the contest website has already brought attention from strangers -- one European fan wrote to request an autographed photo.
But in the meantime, she said, she's not anxious about competing.
"I have so many reasons to be nervous but I'm not. I'm so full of confidence that I have no fear."
"I see even losing as a win. How many people can say they made it to the top 60?"
The public can read contestant bios and vote for them online at www.beautiesofcanada.com
Savic is also seeking sponsors for her campaign.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1546265
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